Gemma Ryan and colleagues describe a project to test the feasibility of taking a sleep management programme into children’s homes

Aim To evaluate the outcomes from a nurse-led, community-based sleep hygiene service for children and young people, which was designed and implemented in a community NHS trust. The project aimed to provide evidence for wider implementation of such a service across the trust.

Method The project recruited 22 participants to an eight-week programme over six months and collected quantitative and qualitative data. It included evaluating service costs and collecting information about how the child’s sleep problem affected the carer and family pre- and post-intervention.

Findings There was a significant, positive effect on quality-of-life measures, with two thirds of participants achieving 40% of their expectations by the end of the eight weeks. Parents said they felt ‘less helpless’ and they valued the support given in the home setting.

Conclusion Cost and benefit analysis showed that the service could reduce costs associated with high-cost prescriptions. It could also positively affect community paediatric waiting lists and clinic appointments.